Leaving on a Jet Plane ...

Tomorrow morning at 6am ... Noahkila, Ms H, Beetle and I

board a flight from Winnipeg to Toronto for a brief

winter holiday in Southern Ontario.

We're going to visit family, do touristy things, and

just kind of hang out in and around my home town.

(I got a digital camera for Xmas - so I'll try it out too!!)

Should be fun ... I'll post if and when I'm able ...

If not, I'll see ya on the 4th when we get home !!

Until then:

Happy New Year !!

Christmas at Home ...

So ... the hub-bub has receded in our house ... the presents are opened ... dinner is cooking ... the parents have rested ...

It's been a full day ... it started at 5am, with Noahkila rising, but not leaving his room (Santa is smart to put stockings in their rooms - it buys extra zzz time for the parents) ... then at 5:24 AM, the sisters arose and the day began ... The opening of gifts didn't happen until 7:20 and by 8:30, mom and dad were wandering back to bed for a snooze ... It's been a good day !!

The three kids got nice presents from Santa and from family and friends ... there were books, toys, clothes and a variety of very cool things ... but what did the girls spend the rest of the day playing with??

AN ENORMOUS BOX that they have decorated with the Christmas Ribbons, Bows and wrapping paper ... so far it has been a car, a house, a spaceship, a boat and an airplane ...

... Next year maybe we'll get Santa to just drop off the recyclables from the North Pole and nail two birds with one stone ... er box !!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS !!!!!

Good Bye God Father ...

He had a troubled life at times ...

... but damned, the man could rock !!

Rest in Peace Brother James ... Rest in Peace.

James Brown

The God Father of Soul

1933 t0 2006

(He said once - "I wanted to be somebody" I think he made it !)

Through the eyes of a child ...

Last night Ms H and I were doing some stuff in the kitchen. We emptied a tin of "Deluxe Mixed Nuts" ... Ms H picked up the tin and started reading it. Suddenly she said:

"That's just stupid !!"

"What?" I asked, "what is stupid?"

"This warning label," she answered, "It reads 'May contain traces of peanuts and/or other nuts.' ..." She paused before turning the tin so I could see the front - "It's a tin of NUTS, of COURSE it contains other nuts ... we wouldn't buy it other wise ..."

Hard to argue that point ... it struck me as a redundant label ... still does ...

Hard to

A Perfect Day For ...

Sledding !!!

The Case for Shopping Locally ...

While the so-called "experts" tell us that big block chain stores are the way of the future, I am one who tenaciously holds to the values of small, family owned, local businesses like the Small Town Hardware store ...

Back in the days when we lived in Bella Coola we used to stop periodically in Anahim Lake in the heart of the Chilcotin ranching country of central BC. We would stop at Christiansen Store more for a visit with Darcy, the owner, than to buy anything (Darcy is a cousin to M's father). The store was a great place to look around. They had almost everything imaginable in stock somewhere, and their motto was "If we don't have it, you don't need it."

This weekend, I had an experience that reminded me of the joys of small town Hardware stores ...

The kids and I were looking to replace a silicon spatula I had broken baking cinnamon buns earlier this week. The broken spatula was bought at a high end kitchen store a year or so ago in Brandon. We went to the local hardware store in the vain hope of finding one ... I wasn't expecting to, and after looking down the kitchen ware aisle, Ms H and I were discussing the possibility of a trip to Brandon to get a replacement spatula and a silicon brush for bread baking ...

I was dreading the thought of going to Brandon so close to Christmas ... I shuddered at the thought ...

Then Ms H and I came out of the aisle and were confronted with a display of sets of silcone kitchen utensils ... in the box was a small spatula like that I wanted to replace, a silicone brush and two other spatulas ... I was thrilled. Not only was I spared a trip to Brandon, I actually found what I wanted cheaper than I had found it ANYWHERE in Brandon !!

So, all I can say is: "Merry Christmas Gord and Kathy and all your staff. And Thanks !!"

Another Christmas Secret ...

I'm not ashamed to say it -

I LOVE CHRISTMAS CAKE !!!

I Adore it ... At this time of year I could subsist on coffee, egg nog, sherry, butter and mince tarts and CHRISTMAS CAKE. Even if I gained 300 lbs doing it - I would be happy ...

I love Christmas baking, especially Christmas Cake - store bought, home-made, light, dark - with royal icing, without ... bring it on !!! I love a slice of Christmas Cake, and if it has been aged with a healthy dram of whiskey, rum or brandy - so much the better.

In many ways I dread the arrival of the Christmas Season. But the one thing I DO look forward to is the gift of Christmas Cake ... no re-gifting in this house ... I savour every bite, even though in the spring I'll have to spend extra time on my bike ... Oh well, it's the burden we must bear ... but one I bear willingly.

Staring Heavenward ...

Last night I was waxing eloquently about staring at the countless stars that fill the Prairie sky on a cloudless night ... Tonight, after getting an email from a friend who commented on the Northern Lights you can see on the Prairies, my mind has wandered back to the visit of the Hale-Bopp comet in 1997 ...

One night while we were still in Bella Coola BC, the comet was very noticable in the sky north of town ... I went out with my binoculars to get a better look. I couldn't keep the steady, so I laid down on my back in the front yard ... Now, to provide the context - the front yard of the Manse in Bella Coola was smack on the corner where most of the life of the Native Community passed by day and night ...

That night as I laid on the grass looking skyward, a group of young people were making their way home from somewhere ... They noisily came down the road until they noticed me lying on the grass.

"Who's that?" one voice asked.

"I think it's the minister," observed another.

"Yeah, It's Shawn ..." said a third, "think he's okay?"

"Maybe he's drunk," observed the first.

"Maybe he's dead," observed the second.

"I'm watching stars," I answered, not looking to see who it was ...

Gasps and laughter and running feet met my words ... and I was again left in peace to watch the comet and the stars ... Though, I still love staring into space when the Northern Lights are dancing across the sky, most of the time though, it's too cold to lie on the ground outside when the Northern Lights are out ... too bad.

Catch of the Day ...

Behold - the first clear footage of a living GIANT SQUID in the wild!!

If you click on GIANT SQUID and you can read for yourself the article, and with luck you can open the file footage from a Japanese research vessel of a Giant Squid (the food of Sperm Whales) trying to wrestle his/her lunch from the scientists.

This is just a cool photo, cooler video and the coolest story ... the sea still has its mysteries, and even though we can SEE a Giant Squid, it is still a mysterious creature we know little about ...

'Only in Canada?' you say - Pity ...

I once heard a comedian joke that the Hottest Canadian Guy is the one with a gazillion Club Zed points and a big wad of Canadian Tire money ...

... well, if that guy were in West Edmonton this Christmas Season, he would be able to turn his Canadian Tire money into a little bit of Holiday Cheer from the local Liqour Store !!

Turns out in an attempt to draw in customers, a Liquor store in Edmonton is accepting Canadian Tire Money at par for purchases. The only caveat is - a maximum of $50 per purchase, and no 5 and 10 cent bills (they plug up the register too quickly).

The incentive has proven popular and people are using handfuls of Canadian Tire money (usually what they've found in their glove compartment of their car or truck ...) in exchange for their alcohol. And here I save up my Canadian Tire money for foolish things like bikes, cleaning supplies and sporting equipment - mea culpa !!

This truly is one of those - "only in Canada" moments ... Pass the Red Rose and let's pull up to a plate of Back Bacon, and we'll wash it all down with a bottle of Blue, while we watch Hockey on CBC ... Eh !!??

Nice One Mr Strahl ...

Dear Mr Strahl, this letter is to wish you a Merry Christmas and a Very Happy New Year ... enjoy it, because if the actions of your Government over the last few weeks is any indication, your time in office is already waning ...

Mr Strahl, you claim to be from a party that not only espoused values of democracy and every vote counting, yet you seem to be ignoring the will of the majority, for the sake of a minority ... Have you and your caucus mates taken the whole minority government thing too seriously??

I think you know where I stand, as a non farmer, on your approach to the Canadian Wheat Board. But Mr Strahl, the question you need to ask yourself as a Proud Canadian, is simply this - "Why do our American Cousins want the Wheat Board eliminated??"

Mr Strahl, I've not been in politics, but I do read - alot - and I've learned that if the Americans (to paint with broad generalities) want to eliminate something that we Canadians have, that's a pretty clear indication that we should be circling the wagons and preparing a good defense of whatever it is ... I remember the US manufacturing companies deciding that they didn't like the Auto Pact that kept Ontario car manufacturing plants humming - so after Free Trade not only was the Auto Pact gone, so too are most of those factories, and their good paying jobs ...

Call me crazy Mr Strahl, but I see parallels here ... in 10 or 15 years the prairie wheat farmer will likely have gone through the same nonsense the auto workers of Southern Ontario have ... it's not worth it Mr Strahl ... it's really not worth it.

I hope you have a Merry Christmas Mr Strahl, because I think there are two very fine candidates for your job ... One is Inky Mark, I may not agree with everything he says and does, but he atleast is listening to the farmers in our constituency ... and the other Candidate is a guy named Adiran Measner, he is currently available for work, and he knows how to represent the interests of farmers, not agri-business ...

One Amongst Millions ...

There is no way to do justice to the starry sky tonight ...

I came home from the longest night service (sometimes called Blue Christmas), and stood in the driveway and simply looked up ... it was breath-taking ... there were countless stars and constellations I couldn't name ... it was beautiful ...

Tonight's service was the time in our Church Calender when we pause to name the burdens and the sorrows and the hurts we carry into the Holiday Season ... It is a time when we acknowledge the losses we as human being shave suffered and own the hurt those losses have wrought.

I like the Longest Night Service. Liturgically, I prefer it to the other services of the Christmas Season. To me it is the service where we face the reality of life ... On the Longest Night of the year, in the darkness, we light our candles and echo Isaiah who said "the people who walked in the darkness, have seen a great light ..."

For some, Christmas is not a season filled with lightness and joy. It is struggle ... it can be a burden. I don't mind Christmas, but it doesn't fill me with overwhelming joy ... I understand how people can feel down at Christmas ... I often do ... But tonight, standing, looking up seeing the countless stars and galaxies over head, I felt connected to something beyond myself ... it wasn't joy that washed over me, but it was a sense of contentment ... knowing that no matter what twists and turns life might take - we are never alone in the cosmos ...

Tonight, I stood in my driveway and looked up at millions upon millions of stars ... and I felt a little bit less alone in the cosmos ... I simply can't do what my eyes beheld any sort of justice ... I can only invite you to go out on a clear dark night and take in the same vista ...

Let me know what you discover ...

Reason #363 for adoring Ms H. ...

Last night, Ms H. was using my lap top to cruise the net ... she was happily typing away when suddenly she exclaimed loudly: "Cool!" stretchng out the "oo" ...

Fearing what she might have found, I asked reluctantly: "What is it?"

"Smart cars !!" She answered triumphantly, as she turned the computer around and with a broad smile showed me a screen filled with pictures filled with cute, environmentally friendly cars ...

Tonight I continue to count my blessings that I have a 10 year old daughter who would rather look up pictures of smart cars, rather than just play mindless computer games ...

Like the girl said - "Cool !"

(I was finishing this entry as Ms H cruised by behind me - she saw the picture and once again exclaimed - "Cool !! Smart Cars are SSSSSOOOOOO CUTE !!!" - do I hear 364 ??)

A NEW Christmas Story perhaps ...

Sometimes the Cosmos offers what can only be described as a laugh ... Today is one of them ...

Over at Katie's Blog - "At the Half Note" today, she posted a piece from Overheard in New York, that is presumably a tip of the hat to my conversation back a ways about what the plural of Jesus might be ... (click on "At the Half Note" to visit)

Now tonight as we were cleaning up for supper CBC Radio's Six O'Clock news carried an item about a Virgin Birth that has scientists baffled ...

Turns out that a female Komodo Dragon has laid and fertilized eight (count em - eight) eggs that are due to hatch any time between now and Christmas.

We listened to the report and Noakila quipped - "I know what they should name them?"

"What?" I asked, fearful of the answer.

"Jesus," answered Noahkila proudly.

"Jesus?" replied I, "but there are eight of them?"

"What's the plural of Jesus?" asked Noahkila (he never reads my blog), "and is there a girl version ..."

My reply: "Just stop talking ..."

The Mystery of Mills' Library ...

Turns out Frank and Joe have found a new home !!

I read this morning in the newspaper that the collected correspondence, diaries, early materials and first additions of Canadian writer Leslie McFarlane have been acquired by McMaster University in Hamilton.

Never heard of Leslie McFarlane ??

Yes you have. He was better know under his nom d'plume of Franklin W. Dixon, the creator of the Hardy Boys Series of books that boys have read for the last 80 years !!!

This collection is described as a "dream acquisition" for the University library, that will allow scholarly research on both the writer and his creation which has remained popular with boys of all ages.

An interesting aside - McFarlane, who died in 1977, had three children. Two of whom have forged notable careers in their own right. His daughter Norah McFarlane-Perez is a US based writer who has penned five young-adult books, and his son Brian is well known to generations of Canadians who grew up watching Hockey Night in Canada ...

As a McMaster Alumni, I'm feeling a blush of pride ... maybe it's a good time to haul out my Hardy Boys books for a bit of light winter reading ... In the meantime, Joe and Frank are off on a grand new adventure in West Hamilton !! I wonder what mysteries they will help solve ??

From the Stone Age to the Space Age ...

From the Flintstones to the Jetsons ... Hanna-Barbera animation created a GALAXY of cartoon stars ... It all started with Tom and Jerry, and expanded to include Scooby, Shaggy, Fred, Barney, Dino, Yogi, Boo Boo, Quick Draw McGraw, Snagglepuss, Grape Ape, Hong Kong Fooey and COUNTLESS other characters that danced, crashed, splashed, swam, ran and played across our TV screens through the 60's, 70's, 80's and 90's ... and many of the continue to play today ...

And they call came from the creative team of Bill Hanna and Joe Barbera ... It is quite a legacy!

Yesterday at the ripe old age of 95, Joe Barbera passed away ... Though he will be missed and mourned, his legacy is secure.

And to think it all started when he was working as a Banker, and a few of his doodles turned into magazine cartoons, which led him to animation, where he met Bill Hanna ... and together they came up with a cartoon about a cat and mouse ... In time Tom and Jerry were born ... and in time an entertainment empire was founded.

Thanks Joe !! Rest in Peace. Tonight I'll pop on my Hong Kong Fooey Complete Series DVD and raise a toast in your honour !!

Back to the Phone Booth ...

I prefer Batman to Superman ... so, instead of a Super-Dad costume, I would opt for a Bat-Dad costume ...

Either way, today I once again tried on my long underused superhero costume ...

This morning I got up, put on the coffee, and got busy making sourdough cinnamon buns ... My goal was to have the ready for the kids to take them in their lunch kits ...

It wasn't meant to be. They weren't ready in time for them to go in the lunches, but all three kids said - "that's okay, we'll have them for after school snacks ..." as they headed out the door.

But then, just as they went out the door, Noahkila asked if we had the Tortierre (meat pie) for his French Class Christmas Party that afternoon ... After resisting the urge to clobber him, I asked if a simple meat pie would suffice. He said yes and I told him it would be there right after lunch ...

At lunch time I delivered six mini-meat pies, duly cooked and prepared to Noahkila's class, and as a bonus I took along three little foil containers holding two cinnamon buns each for each kid ... the best reaction came from Ms H's friends who couldn't believe that A) Her FATHER baked, and B) Her FATHER delivered them ... they were all in awe ...

It was another day to try out my super hero costume ... makes the heart feel lighter ...

Mantra for Today ...

Growth into greater health is hard work.

This is not an easy, quick-fix solution,

not a magic bullet that will change things overnight.

It does not cure all psychological ills.

But it does offer a practical means for achieving a

mature personal character and

a life of principle ...

- Ronald W. Richardson "Becoming a Healthier Pastor"

The Wit and Wisdom of Garrison Keillor ...

"Don't you know it's
wrong to steal?" he said.

Of course I knew.
... knowing right from
wrong is the easy part.
Knowing is NOT the problem.
- Lake Wobegon Days

Pardon me while I pop into the phone booth ...

I haven't felt like wearing it much lately, but tonight after supper I felt like popping into a phone booth and throwing on my Super-Dad superhero costume for a change ...

With M. at work, I had to prepare and serve supper - and event that I have come to frequently loathe ... But tonight's fare made everyone happy and filled the hungry bellies of Noahkila, Ms. H, and Beetle ...

Tonight's Super Menu:

- Homemade "Shake'n'Bake" Chicken drumsticks. The topping was breadcrumbs, parmesan cheese, a mix of seasonings, some shredded cheese, and a geneous pinch of ground flax (don't ask me amounts - I don't cook that way - I use my Grandmother's method of "a pinch of this, a dash of that, and a handful of that ...") All of it was thrown in the food processor and well chopped before being shaked with the chicken and baked. (Yummy)

- perogies
- stuffing
- a spread of veggies

and the piece d'resistence: - fresh baked sour dough cresent buns ... There were no complaints, just the happy sound of three children happily eating their supper ...

The Good News for me is - the suit still fits ... I'll have to haul it out a bit more often !!!!

My NEW Favourite Christmas Album ...

Last year on the one episode of The Tonight Show I actually channel surfed to, there was a kick-ass band playing the song "Heat Miser" from the Bass and Rankin animation special "The Year Without a Santa Claus". I was blown away ... it was awesome.

That night I went searching on the net for more info on the bad Big Bad Voodoo Daddy ... and I began ordering their albums. It's hard to describe them ... they're just plain fun.

But tonight doing the dishes I played my newest favourite Christmas album - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy's Everything you Want for Christmas CD. It was a good way to get the dishes done ...

Things to make you say Hmmm ...

Tonight I came into the living room to find Beetle sitting on the couch flipping through the phone book one page at a time ...

"What are you doing?" asked I.

"Looking for the FLOWER in the phone book," said Beetle without looking up, her fingers still flipping through the phone book.

"Flower?" I asked.

"That's what I said," she replied still not looking up. (When did our 7 year old become so sarcastic?)

I then made an erroneous assumption ... I assumed she was looking for someone with the last name of F-L-O-W-E-R ... You know what Benny Hill used to say about what happens when we assume ... "You make an ASS out of U and ME !!??"

A moment later, Beetle proudly said - "A Ha !!" and lifted a very dry, very flat purple flower out of the phone book, "I found it !!" She said proudly ...

... "Damned," thought I, "I never thought she was looking for a REAL flower ..."

Christmas Presents I Remember ...

Christmas is a funny time of year for me ... on one level I enjoy the pomp and pageantry of the season, I revelle in the telling of the story of Jesus birth (I don't believe it as a literal truth - but I value it as a Myth in the fullest sense of what that word means) ... but on another level I don't really like Christmas. It's too crass and commercial. There is too much emphasis on buying and eating and gathering with family and friends. I find the latter reminds me of what I have lost in chosing to enter the ministry ...

This year for the first time in 15 years I will be "home" in Ontario for Christmas with my cousins and family on my mom's side of the tree ... I'm not expecting it to be like it was - that thread is broken. But I'm looking forward to sharing my memories with my three children so they can add them, and this Christmas to their memories of Christmas ...

Today though, I got thinking about Christmas Presents I remember from my life ... In recent years, for a variety of reasons, the number of presents under the tree for me have been scarce, so most of my present memories stretch back to my youth and my childhood ...

I have always loved getting Lego sets for Christmas ... I remember getting a pair of socks, a chocolate bar and a five dollar bill from my Great-Auntie Marie every single Christmas ... I remember a card from another family friend that ALWAYS had a twenty dollar bill tucked inside ... I remember waiting for three years before Santa FINALLY brought me a Fort Knox Safe Coin Bank for Christmas ... I remember getting board games like Battleships for Christmas ... I remember getting very cool parcels full to bursting with toys from my Big Brother Bill when I was a Little - one year I even got Star Wars Action figures !! ... I remember getting a beautiful woolen sweater (that I still wear) from a dear friend - I responded badly and have regretted it ever since ... I remember my first Christmas with M, getting a beautiful soap stone carving of a walrus ... and I remember the joy on Noahkila's, Ms. H's, and Beetle's faces each Christmas as they opened the presents and parcels scattered under the tree for them each year ... It is such a beautiful moment - one of pure awe and wonder.

I miss the spontaneity of Christmas that came when we were children ... as adults too many things have pushed back the wonder and mystery and damped the joy ... There haven't been many Christmas presents that have caught my breath in recent years and filled me with awe.

One day perhaps the Joy will once again be abundant and real ... BUT, for now I will wait ... and remember with fondness the Christmas presents of the my past ...

Lessons from a favourite film ...

After a walk in the brisk winter cold this morning, I decided this afternoon was a good time to put on a movie and just relax ... My movie of choice was one of my all time favourites: Cinema Paradiso.

Since I first saw the film at Princess Court Cinema in Kingston Ontario during my University Days, I have loved the movie and the story it tells ... It is simply enchanting.

But today after the journey I've been on over the last few months I found it offering me new lessons that I had missed before ... The old man, Alfredo repeatedly offers young Toto or Salvatore words of wisdom that ultimately came from the many movies he had watched as operator of the projector at the Cinema in a small Italian town ... the scene that touched me today came when the now grown Toto has come home and Alfredo sends hin away and tells him to never come back ...

Alfredo: Each of us has a start to follow. ... Get out of here. This land is' impossible. Living here day after day, you think this is the centre of the world. You believe nothing will ever change. Then you leave. One year, two years. When you come back everything's changed. The thread's been broken. What you came to find isn't there. What was yours is gone. You have to go aways a long time, many long years befor eyou can find your chance ... This land's ... not home. Here, nothing is possible. Right now, you're blinder than me ... Life isn't like in the movies ... Real life is much harder."

Alfredo then sends Toto away. Tells him to go and never look back. He doesn't want to hear Toto talking any more, instead he wants to hear people talking about Toto ...

This scene resonated within me today ... We can lament what once was, we can forever chase ghosts, we can seek nostalgia ... Or we can move forward into tomorrow. Perhaps all of us need an Alfredo in our life who have the courage and the love to drive us out into a new land and send us on a journey ...

Life isn't like in the movies ... but there is no reason why it has to be so hard ... we can define our reality by learning lessons from our past ...

Last minute Christmas Gift Suggestions:

With the last week before Christmas upon us, there are those of us who still have some shopping to do ... the proverbial last minute shoppers ...

In the spirit of the season I will offer tonight some suggestions for those pesky last minute Christmas presents:

- shop locally - in small towns, you can keep your hard earned money in the local economy where it belongs

- donations to charity - a gift to a church, or a rebuilding effort like ours offers a gift that lasts ...

- Mennonite Central Committee Giving Projects - for a small donation you can make a HUGE difference in the world by helping people to help themselves

- Fair Trade Products - you can't go wrong with Fair Trade food products - regifting won't happen, and your purchase price helps the producers by paying a living wage

- a donation to the local public library in honour of a friend - buy a book and instead of giving it to someone, donate it to the library in THEIR honour.

- donate some foodstuffs or cash to the local Christmas Cheer, or Christmas Hamper funds

- buy a present to donate to a local Santa Tree, and make the donation in the name of your friend - you help someone in need, and let your friend know you care ...

- take a friend out for lunch, or coffee - what better gift than time ?? You can send a card or a note saying - "I owe you ..." and let them redeem it in the New Year.

The possibilities are endless. We have enough STUFF in our lives. Christmas is a good time to donate to help other help themselves ... I suggest the Mennonite Central Committee as a good place to start ... But that's my choice - there are many others ... search them out for your self and save yourself the hassle of crowded malls and stores ... Search our an alternate way of saying - "Merry Christmas !!"

A few of my favourite things ...

I like:

- butter tarts (the gift of butter tart squares from the real life Jaydee from Chipperfields runs a close second)

- clear, cold, sunny winter days

- fair trade coffee (the new Level Ground Ethiopian is to die for)

- a good laugh (I like Comedy movies, tv shows and stand up)

- books by John Irving

- having coffee with friends

- music by Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and Great Big Sea (can you be any more diverse?)

- Montreal sytle Bagels

- sushi, pizza, curry, Christmas Cake and date squares (though not at the same time)

- peanut butter (nutella is good too)

- Christmas Carols and the Christmas Story

- my kids (even on the bad days)

- my call and occupation (I LIKE my job ...)

- a glass of Gonzal Byass Nutty Solera Oloroso Sherry ... if I can have it with a good book, or a good video, so much the better ...

Favourite Film ...

On June 30th over on the Blog At The Half Note, Katie posted the folowing about The movie "The 40 Year Old Virgin": "I won't justify it, I won't apologize for it, I won't excuse it. I loved this movie."

I have to add a hearty "hear hear" to her comment. Last night we watched the movie on DVD following our return from the movies in Brandon.

The 40 Year Old Virgin is an amazing movie ... it is tasteless, funny, brilliant and I would even dare to say - poignant. Like Katie - I won't justify it. I won't apologize for it. I won't excuse it. I will just agree - I loved it too. It was wickedly funny ... The hair waxing scene alone was worth the rental ... Simply Brilliant !!

What a Great Movie ...

Tonight I went to the movies with Ms H and Beetle ... we went to see Happy Feet.

I simply can not say enough about this movie ... We adored it ... It was fun, funny and a complete blast.

The music in the sound track was wonderful. The voice casting was delightful. And the animation was out of this world ...

We all loved it ... It is a parable about our approach to religion, our approach to the environment, our approach to minorities ...

The story is about a little penguin who unlike the rest of his community, has a heart song that is expressed through dancing rather than singing. Mumble becomes the quintessential out cast who wanders from misadventure through misadventure before coming Home and saving the community. It's a familiar story - but in this movie, it is told in a charming new way ... You can wait till it comes out on DVD, or you can see it on the big scree ... I'd opt for the big screen.

It is a great little film ...

A Christmas Secret ...

One of my absolute favourite Christmas Stories is Dickens' A Christmas Carol ... Every year before Christmas I nestle in on the couch, with a coffee, egg nog or a sherry, and watch the 1951 film version starring Alister Sims.

Other times I listen to the CD of Patrick (Captain Jean-Luc Picard) Stewart's one man stage production ...

Or I'll even haul out the print version and re-read it for the umpteenth time ...

I love that story. It's a tale of transformation, courage and the Triumph of the Christmas Spirit ... and each year it is my hope that
maybe this year, EVERYONE will experience the kind of transformation Scrooge underwent, and the world will at last fall upon its knees in a prayer of one word: "AMEN !!"

(we all remember Amen means - may it be so - don't we ??

... Amen !! & Amen !!)

The Case for a Clergy Union ...

Maybe it is watching and waiting as Mr Measner defiantly fights for his job at the Canadian Wheat Board (a job he is being threatened to lose because HE has the courage to obey the law and listen to the farmers), or perhaps it is the Gospel Reading for this Sunday, wherein John the Baptist calls those searching him out in the desert, "a Brood of Vipers". But whatever it is, this morning I find myself rethinking my stance on a Union for United Church Clergy ...

I know the practicality of a Union is bordering on impossible given the current goverance structure of the Church, but conversations in recent weeks with numerous colleagues across this United Church of ours, has led me BACK to the point of wondering - "Why not ??"

Afterall it has often been the United Church who has stood alongside Labour Unions in their fights both domestically and Globally for JUSTICE. We espouse noble values - but on the ground level, too many voices amongst my colleagues can speak of abuse, neglect and out-right injustice that has been metted out by the "Church" (whatever that term means ...).

Reading John the Baptist's words this week in preparation for worship tomorrow lead me to the words of one of the ghosts visiting Scrooge in Dickens' A Christmas Carol. When Scrooge said - "But I was a good man of business ..." The Ghosts shrieks back - "MANKIND WAS YOUR BUSINESS!!"

I offer the following statements and happenings, all encountered by clergy within the United Church of Canada as evidence that we have a problem ... our clergy are suffering from a low, low morale, and are feeling used and taken for granted - and there seems to be no one willing to help address these things ... they may be solved only by a hard nosed Union that helps some of the beleagured clergy out there, or perhaps they will be solved when we experience a Scrooge like transformation ... I'd opt for the latter because we are after all is said and done, a Church that embodies and proclaims its certainty of the RESURRECTION ... so perhaps these will spurn someone into action before we get more confrontational:

- The members of the Board were discussing the generous bonuses they had recieved from their respective employers (in excess of $200 to $500 each), then they voted to give each staff person $25 !!

- full and part timers were given the same Christmas bonus once again this year ...

- "It would be nice just to be thanked once in awhile ..."

- "I have seven years of university education, 'X' years of experience, and I'm nothing more than a servant ..."

- "When I asked for a raise this year, I was told - 'You got one last year!' Last year the minimum scale went up, and I went up a category. That was my raise."

- "The attendance is strong. The givings are up. The enthusiasm is high. But the Board is insisting that people aren't happy with my ministry ..."

- "We're very generous in our compensation to you ...(this person is paid minimum salary scale) It doesn't seem very Christian for you to complain ..."

- "My kids want to know why we can't go south for Christmas like the other kids in the Sunday School ..."

- "We can't afford to give you a bonus or a raise this year. The givings are down ..." (This came on the heels of a group coversation by the Board members about where they have been, or where going on their annual vacations - the average trip was proudly touted as costing in excess of $10 000.)

- "I'm working 55 to 60 hours a week, and forgoing days off regularly. Then I'm asked if I'm taking time off for myself and my family, and when I do I get asked why I'm not doing more visiting ..."

- "The only reason we are surviving is because my partner is working full time with a good salary and benefits package ..."

- "I've gone years without a raise. You should too. It's a good Christian stance." (the speaker was an executive making 6 figures!)

The theme in these comments is economic ... but the reality is that often the issues confronting clergy are more than just economic. The deeper issue is the the feelings of being taken for granted, of being over worked and of being forgotten. Such sentiments are being spoken and echoed all over the Church ... The BIGGER problem is that no one wants to name it, because if Rev. Joe Smith says - "this is what happened to me ..." His career and vocation can come screeching to an end. So instead of naming and owning this kind of stuff, he suffers in silence.

We face the dilemma of - "if not me, then who ?? If not now, then when?"

When I read the comments I listed above I could add John's words - "you brood of vipers" as a response to each and everyone of those statements. However, the most disheartening thing in this for me is simply this - most people will read the comments I've listed above and think to themselves - "How dare you??" And direct their anger at me for daring to say it ... (it's a case of killing the messenger)

BUT, in that moment - with that reaction - I understand completely where John was coming from in this week's reading. He stood before a generation of people who had grown soft and complacent. They looked out for, and after themselves, and forgot about living justice in ALL aspects of life. And John rightly called them a "brood of vipers."

Today in the Church we face a crisis. It is largely a crisis of our own making. We've grown complacent, and when we're confronted about it our response is denial and anger ... This Christmas season - if one person reads these comments and says - "Oh oh ..." and does something about it in their community of faith, or even in their community then there is still hope of a Resurrection.

As the Ghost said - "Mankind is MY business ..." And the best place to start is by considering how we treat those around us - beginning with the minister ...

Otherwise, people like me WILL shift to supporting a Union, because we will be left with NO OTHER CHOICE ... I know right now of too many ministers ready to simply walk away because of the kinds of things I've listed above. It needs to be addressed - soon !

As Paul said in our Epistle Reading - "whatever is true, whatever is honourable, whatever is just, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable ..." CLING to these things as you share your faith ... Re-read the comments I've listed above and ask the simple questions:

Are ANY of them true, honourable, just, pleasing or commendable??
Are they reflective of a caring compassionate faith??
Are they something the Church could be proud of??

I leave the answers to you ... I know what I think ...

Don't Humiliate Him ...

I don't know if Ron Robinson reads my Blog, but this morning he ended today's edition of the Weekend Morning Show on CBC Radio One, with a tribute to the late Peter Boyle ...

Ron's choice of tape?

The "Putting On the Ritz" scene from Young Frankenstein ... even with only audio - it is funny!!

Thanks Ron. I can think of no better tribute to Mr Boyle than playing that scene ... Well Done.

Are you STILL employed Mr Measner ???

NO word today from Mr Strahl ... maybe he finally decided to listen to the farmers, and to heed the protests ... maybe he heard the voices telling him to leave the Wheat Board and Mr Measner alone ...

Haven't heard anything - maybe NO news is GOOD news ... we can always hope ...
In the meantime - keep up the good fight Mr Measner.

Just a cool Christmas Picture ...

Thanks to Santa Claus for supplying the picture !!

Beetle's Sentences ...

Seven year old Beetle, completed her take home spelling assignment ... she had to use some of the words in sentences.

She authored the following:

These homework things are fun.

I'm going to drop till I drop.

I rily much apresheate your kindness.

With a boom, kaboom, zapy zip and a quick banana named Hannah.

(and my favourite)
Fast away the old year passes.

Farewell to Frank ...

I LOVED him in Young Frankenstein ... can we even mention "Puttin' on the Ritz" without smiling ??

He wasn't the most handsome of men, but he had charm. His characters were quirky, human and lovable ...

His CV is long and varied. His circle of friends included John Lennon. And his most recent, and perhaps best known role was as the wickedly fun Frank Barone on the long running sitcom "Everybody Loves Raymond."

He went too soon ... He was still too young ... Farewell Peter Boyle. You've left us laughing - and may that remain your legacy ... You offered us characters that we could appreciate - characters we know, characters we may be related to, characters that may well be ourselves ... and for that we can be grateful.

Peter Boyle (actor) 1935 - 2006

Two little words ...

It's been one of those days ... busy, hectic and rushed ... but then within it came moments where I was able to pause and feel thankful and appreciated ...

... an email from a friend, who in the midst of dealing with her own sick children, pauses long enough to say - "how are YOU?" ... for that - thank you.

... bumping into a familiar face in the midst of a busy store. The broad smile and warm greeting was just what was needed to recover the elusive Holiday Spirit ... for that - thank you.

... an unexpected phone call in the midst of a grumbly moment. The warm, cheery voice sharing exciting news helped to lift a heart feeling trampled and neglected ... for that - thank you.

... the simple and delightful gift of homebaked butter tart squares. I can't express the appreciation I felt being given that wonderful and thoughtful gift ... for that - thank you.

Today a myriad of very simple, and small gestures have helped to make for a pretty decent day ... may tomorrow bring more of the same ...

For now though, there are only two words that are an appropriate ending.
They are:
Thank You !!

Mr Strahl ... help me understand this, please??

Dear Mr Strahl:

Have you been in Ottawa lately??
Have you been reading the newspapers??
Have you been watching the news on tv??

In case you missed it, the other day your boss, our Prime Minister, just announced plans for a revamped Senate. His proposal is to populate the Upper House in Ottawa thorugh demoratic elections, rather than patronage appointments.

The concept of democracy and elections are fundamental planks in the ongoing platforms of the Conservative Party, and the Government that you and your colleagues have formed. Yet, for some inexplicable reason, you seem to be persisting with the idea that the monopoly of the Canadian Wheat Board needs to be removed.

Mr Strahl, do you really have the best interests of the farmers at heart in this?? Or are you pursuing the agenda of American owned companies who have long wanted the Wheat Board eradicated??

Mr Strahl, if marketing boards with production quotas and controlled sales work in other areas of rural production, why would you, as the agriculture minister even consider changing the Wheat Board?

Mr Strahl, in my family we grew up with the old adage - "if it ain't broke, don't fix it". I don't know if your grandma ever told you that, but mine said it lots. Today you're trying to "fix" something that isn't broken.

Listen to the voices of the farmers on this one Mr Strahl, and stop listening to the voices of business people who say the revamping of the Wheat Board is a good idea. I bet if we really looked into it, they would be the same people who 20 years ago said that Free Trade with the US was a good idea too.

Mr Strahl, before you rush back out to the West Coast, take a day or two and drive around communities in Southern Ontario. As you're driving take time to look at the vacant car part and furniture factories that were busy and occupied before Mr Mulroney foisted Free Trade upon us ... look at those vacant factories and stop at the coffee shops and cafes and talk with the laid off workers you find there, and listen to them tell you how their jobs moved to the US, then to Mexico with the Free Trade agreements we've entered into. Listen to those men and women, and look at what's left of the furniture and auto industries in Southern Ontario, then tell me why opening the marketing of wheat and barley to the free market is a good idea ???

I dare you ... take time to listen for a change Mr Strahl ... it's the very least you can do !!

Hey Mr. Strahl ??

Are you listening to yourself Mr Strahl??

Are you listening to the farmers ??

I have heard enough over coffee here in Minnedosa (you may have heard of it, it's the town your family came from Mr Strahl, you have a really nice cousin in town - he's a fine fellow), to know that your plan for the Canadian Wheat Board is not what the farmers want ...

You talk about democracy. You talk about listening to the farmers. You even talk about letting the farmers decide the future of the Wheat Board ... Mr Strahl, I have to ask you - how do you see the farmers doing that ???

Am I mistaken, or didn't the farmers get the chance to vote last week?? Didn't they send a clear statement about what they want for the Wheat Board?

Or are you listening to the minority vote who want the Board Monopoly to end?

Mr Strahl, how do you and our government decide which minority groups you will listen to? Clearly you don't want to listen to the minority voices of womena dn gays and lesbians, but you will listen to the minority voices of big business ... Mr Strahl, your actions run counter to the very values you and your party were elected on ...

Mr Strahl, listen to the farmers. Or at the very least listen to Mr Mark (you know him he sits on your side of the House of Commons and represents this riding), Mr Mark clearly listened to the farmers. In the meantime, you might want to follow his lead ...

Praise the Lord, and Pass the Ammo ...

This falls under a - "what were they thinking?" category ...

Today on CTV news' website they reported on a "Christian" video game that has folks up in arms (pardon the pun). The game - Left Behind Eternal Forces ...

I haven't seen the game, but I've read enough on line about it to know that it isn't a game I would want anywhere near my kids, or any of their friends.

Left Behind - Eternal Forces is an apocalyptic shoot 'em up game, where the goal is to survive during the apocalypse awaiting the return of the Lord ... The characters utter "praise the Lord" as they shoot opponents, non-believers and others who clearly need to be dealt with ... The game has come to us from the evangelical fringe who seem to believe that if it is labeled as "Christian" it will be okay ...

Hmmm ... violent video games are something we allow in our house ... even if it is labelled Christian, or is intended to teach our young people how to be among the "Chosen" at the end of time ...

I've heard it said before - "Dear Lord, save us from your followers ..." PLEASE !!!
NOW !!!!
I'M REALLY SCARED HERE ...

More likes and dislikes ...

I like the smell of fresh baked bread ... (today at Co-op we grabbed a loaf of french bread for supper ... it was still warm ... the smell was heavenly ...)

I like fresh baked Butter Tarts ... (I can't say this enough !!)

I dislike manipulative, dishonest people ...

I really dislike lies, half truths and falsehoods.

I like sincerity and care ...

I like the look of HOAR frost on everything at this time of year ...
I really dislike the slippery roads, sidewalks and the fog that goes along with it ...

I really like hearing the words: "Thank You" once in awhile ...

I dislike a lack of manners ...

I really liked the Sunday School Pageant that we held as part of this weekend's worship ...

Ten months ago today ...

With new plans in hand ...

We are awaiting the Resurrection !!

I wonder where we'll be 10 months from now??

Stay Tuned ...

Another Letter to Prime Minister Harper ...

Dear Mr Harper:

I don't think you've read my previous correspondance to you. I understand if you've been too busy. Afterall, running a country like Canada, while being a husband, father and so on, must be challenging.

But I felt compelled to write you again today after hearing Mr Strahl speaking on the recent elections to the Board of the Canadian Wheat Board. I know you're a busy man, but I hope you are aware of the statements your colleague is making that would suggest that he has no respect of the democratic process that our wheat farmers have recently engaged in.

To me, as a non farmer, the outcome of the election of directors to the Board would seem to suggest that the direction being touted by Mr Strahl is NOT the direction sought by the prairie wheat farmers. But then, what do I know? I thought the issue of same sex marriage was one that was clearly decide some time ago. Clearly there is a reason you are running the country and I'm not.

For now though Mr Harper, I would raise the concern that one of your cabinet ministers is operating in a way that is contrary to your expressed values of democracy. If the farmers clearly speak through the election process, is there a compelling reason why Mr Strahl would continue to push for something that no one else wants?

Well Mr Harper, I know you are busy and I shouldn't waste any more of your time on such frivolous things like the rights of prairie farmers to determine the future of something as unimportant as the Canadian Wheat Board, but I do hope you take time to consider these matters. In places like Minnedosa, it is a hot topic of conversation, and even your colleague Mr Inky Mark,(in case you've forgotten who he is, he's our MP, and even though I don't agree with everything he stands for, I DO agree with his stance in regards to the CWB) has spoken out for the right of farmers to be the ones to decide the fate of the CWB.

Mr Harper, you one condemned the previous government for it's arrogance. I fear that Mr Strahl is taking a page out of Mr Chretien's manual. You should consider stopping him before he further harms your government's chances at a re-election.

I offer all of this for your consideration and reflection. Mr Harper, I would once again offer you coffee and a slice of cheesecake at Chipperfield Coffee Company here in Minnedosa, if you want to stop by. I promise you I won't ask you about running the country. Instead perhaps we could take some time to look over the new church. It would be a good way to spend a wintery afternoon. Just call when you're in town, coffee will be on me. It's the least I can do.

Take care, and in case we don't talk before Christmas - Merry Christmas to you and your family. I haven't got your card yet. It must have been delayed in the mail.

sincerely yours,
shawn from minnedosa

Psst ... The New Church Plans are OUT !!!

I won't post them here ... but the plans for the new church to replace the old sanctuary destroyed by fire are out !!!

Bounce over to the http://minnedosaunited.blogspot.com (the Minnedosa United Church Blog) to see the plans,

and THEN head over to:

www.minnedosatribune.com

to read the article that tells about what the new plan entails ...

A hearty thanks to our architect, Michael and to our building committee for the work that has lead us to this point. And a BIG Thank you to Wilf, the chair of the committee for all his work too ...

It's exciting ... and now the work begins ...

I'm Proud to be United ...

It is not unanimous by any means even within the United Church, but as a denomination we have affirmed the right of Gays and Lesbians to celebrate their Marriages both as civil and religious ceremonies.

Personally, I have no problem with this. Though, I know that it remains a sensitive an issue for many people I care deeply about, and whom I call friends.

But in today's headlines, I have found an item that makes me proud to be a member of the United Church of Canada ...

Daniel Poirier and Jack Murphy, both life long Catholics ran an announcement in a Nova Scotia newspaper celebrating their marriage, an action that heterosexual couples do all the time. But for the two men it would mean the end of their ability to partake in the sacrament of communion at their parish church. The order came down from the Archbishop. The two men are in violation of Church teachings, and therefore must withdraw themselves from communion or alter their lifestyles.

For both men it was a painful decision. But they have wandered down the street and been welcomed into the United Church ...

I'm sad that the two men were rejected in such a way by their own church, but I am pleased and proud that the United Church is a place where they can, will be and are made welcomed.

Just proud to be a dad ...

It was a packed house ... we ran out of bulletins and hymn books ...

This morning at worship, our Sunday School presented a production of "Touch of an Angel" that was superb and simply wonderful ...

As the minister, I was impressed with the dedication and commitment of the kids, the adults and the musicians that made the whole worship experience happen ...

But as a dad of three of the participants, I was just proud of both the work they put in and the enjoyment the took out of the production. I was impressed when Noahkila, Ms H, and Beetle each in turn did their bit for the production. Together with the other kids, they did a fabulous job that entertained, educated and inspired us ... (especially inspired us !!)

Thanks to one and all ... It was a great way to spend a morning, and it was an honour to share worship with the young people of our church ... and the cake and ice cream that followed was yummy !!

We shed no tears ...

For four years I drank coffee in front of a mural at McMaster University commemorating the "Disappeared" of his 17 year rule over Chile ...

Today at the age of 91 he died, having never been called to justice for the brutality of his regime and his iron fist ...

I won't even mention his name ... may he simply slip into the sands of time, forgotten and reviled as he so richly deserves ... and Today and in the coming days, may we instead remember the Disappeared and those who died under his rule ... They deserve to be remembered ... he deserves to be forgotten ...

In remembering the Disappeared, we seek to never let it happen again ...

Words of wisdom from a Wise Rabbi ...

Looking upon myself from the perspective of society, I am an average person.

Facing myself intimately, immediately, I regard myself as unique, as exceedingly precious, not to be exchanged for anything else.

No one will live my life for me, no one will think my thoughts for me, or dream my dreams.

In the eyes of the world, I am an average man.

But to my heart, I am not an average man. To my heart, I am of great moment.

The challenge I face, is how to actualize the quiet eminence of my being ...

- Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel

Random Likes and Dislikes ...

I like cold clear winter days ...
I dislike cloudy, dreary, rainy days ...

I like honest, hardworking people ...
I dislike manipulative, mean and dishonest people ...

I like Fair Trade Coffee ...
I dislike multi-nationals putting profits before people ...

I like shopping locally ...
I dislike shopping at Mega-stores ...

I like bike rides on a fall day ...
I dislike SUVs and 4x4s and ATVs ...

I like the Spirit of Christmas ...
I dislike the Commericalism of Christmas ...

I like butter tarts ...
I like Christmas cake ...
I like fresh baking ...
I REALLY like Christmas fudge ...

I dislike what all that baking does to my waist ...

Twenty Six Years Ago Today ...

It was 26 years ago today, December 8th 1980, that John Lennon's life ended on a New York Street ...

... Today let's pause and try to really imagine the world that he tried to guide us to ...

... Today let's pause and try to really imagine the world the way his dreamt of it ...

We may say that he WAS a dreamer. But thank God, he's not the only one ... His dreams continue ... His music continues ... Shall we join him in his dreams of a better world?

It's easy if we try ...

Four Missing Words ...

The sign for "thank you" is made by touching your lips with the front of the fingers of your right hand.
Your hand should be an "open-b."
Move your hand away from your face, palms upward.
Smile.
Note: If you use two hands with this sign it means you are "very" grateful.

In the Church we speak of having an "attitude of gratitude." We often offer up our prayers of "thanksgiving." And we speak of remembering to "thank God" for the many blessings we enjoy. But, having said that, I've noticed lately that we're missing four very important words in our societal vocabulary.Four words that tie directly into those grandiose theological notions, and yet are so frequently overlooked. They are four words that have somehow dropped from regular usage slowly and quietly, but their loss is significant ...

The first two are the simple words: "Thank you." ... They are frequently lacking in our day to day exchanges, particularly when it comes to those people we interact with most frequently.

How often do we really say (and mean) "thank you"? when we move through our day? Do we say "thank you" to the clerk who served us at the retail store, or the waitress who brought us our lunch or coffee? Do we thank the librarian for doing her job? Do we thank the Police Officer who pulled us over for doing her job? Do we thank the receptionist for doing her job? Do we thank the repair man for doig his job? Do we say "thank you" to our family members when they do chores, or do something for us?

We should ... it's the very least we can do ... Just because we "pay" for something, doesn't mean we shouldn't say "thank you" for a job well done.

We've gotten lazy ... we forget to say "thank you" too often. This past week I read a story by a clergy in the States who felt the absence of "thank you" following a fire at the church he once served. He went in and out of the burning building to save a variety of items, he stood with and comforted the congregants as they together watched the building burn. In that moment of crisis he went above and beyond his call - BUT - later, when the congregation gathered to begin the mourning process he listened to "thank you" after "thank you" after "thank you" being offered to innumerable people for the parts they played that day - but at no point were any of the "thank you's" directed at him ... he was just an employee ... he was the servant ... he was never thanked ... years later that omission still stings ...

I can relate to that story ... I've lived that story ... I know how much it hurts not to be thanked when you've given heart and soul to something ... I've been there ...

The uttering of two simple words: "Thank you" can make a huge difference to someone ... Have you ever noticed that when you say it in a busy check out line at a store, and really mean it, the clerk will usually smile ... I remember casually saying "thank you" to a clerk in a neighbourhood grocery store years ago, and the next time I went in, she commented on how much that meant to her that day ... she said she was having a bad day and having me smile, look her in the eye and say simply, "thank you, ------" made all the difference in the world ...

To me it was two simple words, offered to her by name ... to her it was the difference between a good day and a bad day ... It can be THAT simple. Just saying "thank you" at the right time ...

Which brings me to the next two missing words - "you're welcome."

The answer to "thank you" is NOT "no problem." The answer to "thank you" is a polite - "you're welcome."

As much as I miss hearing the words "thank you", I miss hearing the words "you're welcome" more ... When I hear someone, usually someone young, say "no problem" I want to say - "I know it wasn't a problem, it was your job, but I want you to know that I really appreciate what you're doing ... please just say - 'you're welcome' next time ..."

I want to say it. But I don't.

Like silently waiting for thanks that will never come. I smile and inside I weep at what we've lost ...

Life is good ... Life is grand ... Life is such an awesome thing ... I want to reclaim the sense of awe and wonder that goes along with it, and the best place to begin is by reclaiming the two simple words - "thank you"!!

And as we do, every once in awhile it would be nice to see us use BOTH hands when we say "thank you" and really, really mean it !!

And in case I haven't said it enough: THANK YOU !!